The Philippine government cannot be stopped from resuming the peace talks with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Communist Party of the Philippines (CCP)-National Democratic Front (NDF)-New People's Army (NPA), Press Secretary Cerge Remonde said.

He said the Arroyo administration is determined to pursue its peace offer with the Muslim rebels and the communist group.

Peace negotiations with the MILF were stalled a year ago following the non-signing of a memorandum of agreement on ancestral domain in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in August, which then resulted to intense fighting between government troops and Muslim rebels. Meanwhile, talks with the communist group were halted in September 2004 due to its inclusion in Washington and Europe’s terror list.

Remonde said the bombings carried out by lawless elements won’t disrupt the government’s unceasing peacekeeping efforts.

“We should not allow them to derail the peace process lalo na ngayong maganda na ang development at magre-resume na ang peace process,” he said in an ambush interview, shortly after the signing of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) extension with Reform (CARPer) Bill or the Republic Act 9700 at the Don Jose Mariano Park in Plaridel, Bulacan last Friday.

“As we have said, the road to peace is very long, tedious, difficult one. There is no alternative to peace. The alternative to peace, which is war, is no alternative at all,” he said.

Earlier, Washington assured the Philippine government of its continuous assistance to move forward the peace process in Mindanao in a bid to end the decades-old armed conflict in the region.

President Arroyo’s appeal for US government assistance to advance the Mindanao peace process gained the nod of US President Barack Obama, who was “pleased” with the Arroyo administration’s renewed efforts to jumpstart the peace negotiations with the Muslim rebels.

Exiled communist rebel negotiator Luis Jalandoni, who returned home last month, said he intends to take part in the negotiations early this month in Oslo, Norway.

Ending the 40-year-old insurgency and revealing the identities of the 87 negotiators who enjoy safe conduct passes are among the two issues to be discussed in the August peace talks.

The Norwegian government has been facilitating the talks between the Philippines and the communist group.

The Joint Agreement on Security and Immunity Guarantees, which was suspended in August 2005, was revived last July 17. The agreement provides immunity to 87 rebel negotiators and consultants from criminal prosecution.